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Summary

Researchers at Children's National Hospital have developed a novel surgical tool for implanting cardiac therapy devices, obviating the need for invasive open chest surgery procedures.

Description

Each year, nearly 7,200 infants in the United States are born with complex congenital heart disease that requires surgical intervention. To deliver cardiac therapy, children currently undergo a sternotomy or thoracotomy to expose the epicardial surface of the heart. This open chest surgery is highly invasive, and typically includes stays in the intensive care unit. Our novel access tool converts an open chest surgery to a minimally invasive, single incision, percutaneous procedure. This brings the following advantages to the cardiac therapy device field: